A BILL to amend and reenact §51-8-8 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to county law libraries operated by
the Supreme Court of Appeals.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §51-8-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 8. STATE AND COUNTY LAW LIBRARIES; LAW CLERKS.

§51-8-8. Authority to establish county law libraries; under
control of circuit judge; rules. and regulations

In addition to all other powers and duties now conferred by
law upon The Supreme Court of Appeals and the circuit courts, such
courts are hereby authorized and empowered tomay establish county
law libraries which shall beonce established, are wholly under the
control and management of the circuit judge, with the assistance of
the circuit clerk. The Supreme Court of Appeals may determine the
appropriate number of law libraries that will be in operation as
well as the location of the libraries and may expend funds for the
purchase of books or other expenses necessary tofor the operation
of the county law librarylibraries.

All county law libraries presently in existencein operation
shall be continued and kept current and the cost thereofof the
libraries, other than for provision of adequate space, shall be
borne by the state and charged againstpaid from the judicial
accounts thereofbranch appropriation.SuchThe county libraries
shall be available for use by the public subject to such reasonable
rules as may be adopted by the circuit judge. County commissions
shall provide adequate space for suchthe county libraries.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Supreme
Court of Appeals to determine which county law libraries are being
used and should be continued as an obligation of the state.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.